Built at the foot of the breathtaking Verdugo Mountains, affluent Glendale is an ethnically diverse and culturally rich town with a population of about 202,000.
The third largest city in Los Angeles County, Glendale spans just over thirty square miles and has 34 neighborhoods divided by streets, mountain ridges and washes. Some are eclectic and funky like Adams Square, some quaint like Kenneth Village, and some close to nature like the Verdugo Woodlands or the Chevy Chase canyon area. Schools are top-notch and the Glendale Community College is one of California’s best and largest two-year colleges.
A primary retail center for the San Fernando Valley, Glendale has an exciting downtown with a farmers market and one of a kind stores including the huge Glendale Galleria, which sees more daily visitors than Disneyland. Superb performing arts venues, nightclubs, and outdoor concert spaces abound in Glendale, many of them in historic buildings, and there are good museums in town.
Community spirit is alive and well in Glendale. There are several active non profit organizations and the senior center helps older residents make new friends. Community involvement and responsive local government means that Glendale neighborhoods are clean and the city is ranked among the safest in the nation by size.
Location
Glendale is in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, about 10 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Glendale is just 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles, and only 5 from Burbank and Hollywood. San Diego is about 120 miles to the south and Ventura is about 60 miles north.
Geography/Terrain
Glendale is in the San Fernando Valley in north central Los Angeles, with its northernmost part in the beautiful Verdugo Mountains. Plentiful trees and public landscaping provides relief from the glorious Southern Californian sunshine. Covering over 30 square miles, Glendale is Los Angeles County’s third largest city.
Jobs
Glendale is an affluent suburb with a strong retail and commercial presence, a highly educated workforce, and very low unemployment. Many find work in its downtown office blocks, and the huge Glendale Galleria shopping center has more visitors each day than Disneyland. Thanks to its central location, Glendale is also a short commute from surrounding business centers, including world entertainment centers Hollywood and Burbank.
Housing
Glendale is an eclectic mix of vintage architecture and new homes. Spanish Revival and art deco styles rub shoulders with modernist, and neighborhoods are distinct and charming. From the Verdugo Woodlands district (wooded) to Adams Hill (eclectic housing and great views), Rossmoyne (vintage homes on flat lots) to Brockmont (large estate homes), Glendale real estate is varied and appealing. Housing values have held consistently over the years, bolstered by the strong commerce driven local economy and the city’s excellent school system.
Single family homes currently range from $395,000 to $2,090,000.
Recreation
Glendale is a pretty city with 32 neighborhood parks and almost 4,500 acres of open space. Many areas, like Brand Park, have a distinctly European flavor, with fountains and historic buildings. The Brand Library and Art Center in Brand Park has one of California’s best art and music libraries. Glendale Parks and Recreation also administer a skate park, a Civic Auditorium, and Recreational Center, and run a wide range of programs for adults, seniors, and children.
The nearby Verdugo Hills have a multitude of hiking trails and each year community members join up for a fun group hike.
The Angeles National Forest is a short car trip away and it is a great place to go camping, hiking and swimming.
Special Attractions/Events
Glendale has a vibrant downtown with fantastic shopping, movie theatres, nightclubs and several good live-performance venues. The beautifully restored Alex Theatre hosts world-famous performers and top productions, and the Glendale Center Theater stages popular comedies and musicals, and spectacular children’s shows.
The Glendale Galleria brings shoppers from all over to Glendale and brings many, many visitors per day, and downtown’s colorful specialty stores and farmer's market bring character to this thriving retail center.
Glendale has lovely European style parks and several good museums housed in historic buildings, including the Doctors House Victorian Museum, which honors silent filmmaker Nell Shipman and the Roslin Art Gallery, which houses medieval and contemporary Armenian art.
Glendale College is excellent and has many lovely buildings on campus with architecture influenced by Spanish Revival and Art Deco designs.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Glendale was once a ranch owned by the wealthy Verdugo family, who received it as a grant from the Spanish in 1798. (The Verdugo Mountains are named in honor of these early inhabitants). Interfamily squabbles over land lead to its loss as it was parceled up among many claimants and a small commercial center sprung up. In 1884 local property owners decided to call their settlement Glendale and it was incorporated in 1906.
Glendale appreciates its history and cares for its many historical buildings. Some of the most popular include the Casa Adobe, the Verdugo Adobe, the Tea House and the Doctor's House, which is home to a Victorian museum and exhibit on silent filmmaker Nell Shipman, who lived in the house from 1917 to 1920.
The Glendale Civic Auditorium is a lovely Spanish Revival-Art Deco influenced building and it stands beside Verdugo Park, Glendale College, and several stately homes.
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